Russian extradited to US over multimillion-dollar bank fraud
A Russian web developer, Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, has been extradited from Georgia to the United States to face charges after allegedly running a scheme that stole millions from U.S. bank customers, according to U.S. authorities. Prosecutors say Filimonov and others used fake bank websites to gather login details and initiate unauthorized transfers, causing confirmed losses of about $14.6 million and targeting at least 19 victims. Filimonov pleaded not guilty in court.
- Filimonov allegedly spoofed bank sites to steal credentials
- Authorities identified at least 19 U.S. victims
- Confirmed losses are about $14.6 million, with more attempted
- Filimonov was indicted on multiple fraud and identity theft charges
- Investigation involved law enforcement from multiple countries
Sources covering this
More in Cybersecurity
Microsoft releases record number of security patches
Microsoft released updates to fix at least 974 security vulnerabilities across Windows and other products, its largest patch release to date. The update includes critical flaws, some already being exploited, and over 100 rated as dangers that could let attackers seize control of systems. The unprecedented volume is partly due to the use of AI for vulnerability detection, but experts warn that rapid growth complicates efforts to test and deploy fixes.
OpenAI pledges $1 billion for AI cyber defense program
OpenAI has pledged $1 billion in credits to help organizations defending critical U.S. infrastructure—including water utilities, electric grids, local governments, banks, and nonprofits—access its AI-powered cybersecurity tools, training, and support. The "Daybreak for Frontline Defenders" initiative aims to help these sectors strengthen their defenses as AI-driven cyberattacks become more advanced. OpenAI says it will expand the program to partner countries in the coming weeks.
Liquid Network exploit creates $320 million in unbacked bitcoin
Attackers exploited a software bug in Blockstream's Liquid Network, a Bitcoin sidechain, creating about 4,000 unbacked Liquid Bitcoin (L-BTC) and withdrawing $320 million. The attackers identified themselves as white hat hackers and have returned most funds, retaining around $47 million. According to Blockstream, the incident did not involve compromised multisig keys but was caused by a vulnerability in recent node software.
BigBear 2.0 phishing campaign hits Microsoft 365 accounts
Researchers at CloudSEK have identified a phishing-as-a-service campaign called BigBear 2.0 that stole over 5,100 Microsoft 365 credentials from users in at least 40 countries. Attackers obtained session cookies and passwords, allowing them to bypass multifactor authentication in hundreds of cases. IT service providers were among the most targeted organizations, increasing the possibility of broader downstream attacks.